PCI-Express 4.0 interface will come next year

It is currently 6 years since PCI-Express 3.0 was launched and it is about time we see a continuation named PCI-Express 4.0. With the accessibility of new connection standards like M.2 or U.2, the push for the higher data transmission is finally reaching PCI devices. This new standard will offer twice the bandwidth if we compare it with the PCI-Express 3.0 x16, and this translates into a rate of 16 GT / s. On the other hand, graphics cards will also take advantage of it, but seeing the difference between PCI-Express 2.0 x16 and PCI-Express 3.0 x16, it will be a very small improvement, although after all, it is an improvement.

PCI-Express 4.0 is twice faster than PCI-Express 3.0

AMD and NVIDIA might use this new interface with next generation graphic silicon – based on Navi and Volta respectively, although it is too early for that, like Intel and AMD both have not said anything about PCI-Express 4.0 in their upcoming Chipsets for motherboards. What we know is that PCI-SIG has already shown the first device in a prototype form that makes use of this connection, it is the ConnectX-5, an impressive controller that offers two Gigabit Ethernet ports to 100 GB / s. The PCI-Express 4.0 interface supports backward compatibility with 3.0 and the rest.

Although the PCIe 4.0 will not be available commercially until 2017, PCI-SIG is already working on its successor, PCI-Express 5.0, which could offer a yield of between 25 and 32 GT / s.